There are many opportunities to get involved to help better the City of Alexandria. Opportunities include serving on a Board, Commission or Committee, providing input on a new City project or speaking at a City Council meeting.

Historic Alexandria is a treasure trove of early structures, artifacts, and records that creates a unique way of life for its citizens and provides enjoyment for thousands of people who visit this special community every year. The City continues to add resources to its collection of local and nationally designated historic districts.

Agencies and programs that help maintain our safety and overall quality of life. These links contain information about the City of Alexandria's law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, courts and judicial system.

The City provides a number of services to residents, including refuse collection and recycling. In addition, the City is responsible for maintaining streets, sidewalks, bridges, and other infrastructure in the City.

Did you know that ACPS is one of the most diverse school systems in the country? Our students come from more than 80 different countries, speak more than 60 languages, and represent a myriad of ethnic and cultural groups. The Alexandria Library is an educational, user-oriented service institution providing free public access to recorded knowledge and ideas.

The City provides public assistance as a safety net for individuals and families, including help with homelessness prevention, food, rent, utilities, medical coverage and prescriptions, job training and placement assistance, and much more.

If you are looking for small-town charm and big-city amenities, Alexandria is the place to find them. Alexandria has a fascinating history, and many of its historic buildings are still preserved today. The City's many historic homes, churches, businesses, and museums allow residents and visitors alike to experience the past that makes it the charming town it is today.

Alexandria is a desirable location to live, work and play. The City owns many of the premier historic sites in Alexandria and it is charged with the conservation, interpretation and promotion of these links to the past.

Alexandria is an active community that offers more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space, and a wide variety of neighborhood and recreation centers, pools, dog parks, farmers' markets, waterfront activities and more.

Ideally located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Alexandria is nationally recognized as one of the best places to live and do business on the east coast. Learn how we can help you start or relocate your business in Alexandria, and access resources for existing businesses and commuters.

Alexandria offers wide range of job opportunities and services. Work for City government or City Public Schools, find out about an internship opportunity or learn about workforce development and career training options.

Call.Click.Connect., the City’s online customer service system, allows customers to submit service requests, report problems, search for information, or find the right contact to call for various issues and topics of interest.

Alexandria offers wide range of job opportunities and services. Work for City government or City Public Schools, find out about an internship opportunity or learn about workforce development and career training options.

Alexandria is an active community that offers more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space, and a wide variety of neighborhood and recreation centers, pools, dog parks, farmers' markets, waterfront activities and more.

Agencies and programs that help maintain our safety and overall quality of life. These links contain information about the City of Alexandria's law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, courts and judicial system.

The City provides a number of services to residents, including refuse collection and recycling. In addition, the City is responsible for maintaining streets, sidewalks, bridges, and other infrastructure in the City.

The City provides public assistance as a safety net for individuals and families, including help with homelessness prevention, food, rent, utilities, medical coverage and prescriptions, job training and placement assistance, and much more.

The Alexandria City Council is composed of a Mayor and six Council members who are elected at-large for three-year terms. The Mayor, who is chosen on a separate ballot, presides over meetings of the Council and serves as the ceremonial head of government.

The City of Alexandria has a strong commitment to citizen participation as evidenced by the number of citizen boards and commissions established by City Council. These bodies compose a formal system through which citizens can advise City Council on all major issues affecting the City.

There are many opportunities to get involved to help better the City of Alexandria. Opportunities include serving on a Board, Commission or Committee, providing input on a new City project or speaking at a City Council meeting.

The City government acts with integrity in an open process, and provides timely access to clear, trustworthy information, presented and employed by all parties from the beginning to the end of the process, including the reasoning that leads to and supports the policy conclusion.

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Alexandria's Arts & Culture Master Plan

The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts engaged Cultural Planning
Group (CPG) to develop a comprehensive, citywide cultural arts plan that shall
define the role of the Office of the Arts in supporting, producing, defining,
and sustaining arts and culture initiatives throughout the city to accomplish
the City’s broader goals. On Saturday December 17, 2016 City Council approved the Arts and Culture Master Plan as recommended by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts and the Arts and Culture Plan Steering Committee.

You can view the plan here. You can view a text version of the plan here.

The Process

This plan resulted from an
extensive engagement process in which over 200 individual residents
participated in a series of open houses and community meetings; more than 100
individuals participated in two town halls – one to launch the process and one
to share findings and draft goals and strategies; 90-plus cultural leaders,
business leaders, individual artists participated in discussion groups and
in-depth interviews; and over 500 people completed an on-line survey. The
appendix of this plan includes a community engagement summary.

What do we mean by arts and culture?

There are
different meanings for the terms “arts” and “culture” and their meanings often
change in different contexts. This plan adopts an expansive, inclusive
definition of the arts and culture. It includes:

A range of
arts, cultural and creative sectors: fine arts, as well as popular, traditional
and commercial arts.

A range of
cultural events: performances, exhibitions, festivals, and celebrations.

“Culture” is
most often defined in anthropological terms.1 It includes traditions,
historical resources, community heritage and forms of expression valued,
practiced, and preserved by a community. Culture shapes how we view the world
and is integrated into all aspects of daily life. It comes alive through
creativity, whether participating as an audience member, maker, creator, patron
or consumer. And, importantly, when public spaces are vibrant and full of the
life of a community.

Arts, culture,
and creativity are among a community’s most powerful assets. They distinguish
each community and allow residents to better understand and celebrate the
uniqueness of their lives. Arts, culture, and creativity are a competitive
tool, strengthening many elements of civic life, including the economy,
workforce development, education, youth development, neighborhood development,
redevelopment, sustainability, and cultural equity. An increasing body of
research documents how thoughtful cultural policy is essential to civic health.
Cultural planning is a primary tool for organizing the best use of this
critical asset. This plan fundamentally views cultural planning as holding up a
mirror to the Alexandria community and reflects the community’s diverse needs,
aspirations, history and capacities.